Rose achieved sainthood in only 18 years of life. Even as a child Rose had a
great desire to pray and to aid the poor. While still very young, she began a life of penance in her
parents´ house. She was as generous to the poor as she was strict with herself. At the age of 10 she
became a Secular Franciscan and soon began preaching in the streets about sin and the sufferings of
Jesus.

Viterbo, her native city, was then in revolt against the pope. When Rose took the
pope´s side against the emperor, she and her family were exiled from the city. When the pope´s side
won in Viterbo, Rose was allowed to return. Her attempt at age 15 to found a religious community
failed, and she returned to a life of prayer and penance in her father´s home, where she died in
1251. Rose was canonized in 1457.

Other Saints of the day:

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